70th anniversary of Jum it-Tragedja commemorated in Gozo

This Tuesday is the 70th anniversary of one of the worst sea tragedies in Gozo, when on the 30th of October 1948, 24 persons drowned near the shores of Gozo as they were crossing from Malta.

The Minister for Gozo, Dr Justyne Caruana, presided over a commemoration ceremony at sea on Sunday morning to mark Jum it-Tragedja.

The ceremony included a Mass celebrated by Rev Dr Joseph Zammit on board the MV Gaudos at the site of the shipwreck. The Minister was accompanied by her husband, Silvio Valletta.

Dr Caruana, relatives of some of the victims, as well as distinguished guests, cast flowers into the sea as a sign of remembrance and respect at the spot where the tragedy occurred.

This was the greatest tragedy that occurred in Gozo after World War II, and occurred when notwithstanding severe weather conditions, a luzzu tried to make the crossing from Marfa to Gozo, carrying several passengers among whom were two policemen, a woman and two members of the crew.

This crossing came to an abrupt end when the boat overturned when it was near to Hondoq ir-Rummien bay, only four of the passengers survived by swimming to shore.